Abell

Many would consider Abell part of the adjoining Charles Village, a notion supported by geographic similarity and the strong student demographic in both areas. The streets in Abell are a bit smaller, slower, and greener than the major Baltimore arteries of Calvert and Saint Paul Streets, and this has resulted in a slightly more visible presence of young families and elderly residents, some of whom have lived in Abell all their lives. Lots of twenty-somethings too, for good measure.

Abell is an entirely residential community. Unfortunately, the nightlife in neighboring Charles Village doesn't offer much - three sports bars with of greasy drunk food (rather two, since you absolutely must avoid PJ's unless you are currently paying dues to a fraternity). Among the Starbucks and Chipotles are a few quality places to eat, like Carma's Café (best coffee in Baltimore). Greenmount Boulevard has a number of soul food and lake trout places, Trinidadian food, a mediocre overpriced Thai restaurant (called simply "Thai Restaurant") and the absolute best breakfast joint in the city - Pete's Grille.

Rental prices in Abell are inversely proportional to the distance from Charles Street. It's a relative bargain if you find the right home that mixes space, modern comfort, and safety. Homes on Guilford are more likely to be split up into apartments, while those on Abell and Barclay are for the most part offered as entire units. Renting anything refurbished would be your best bargain.

Virtually all rowhouses have a driveway or parking pad in the back, but this gets tricky when more than two cars belong to a single housing unit. Street parking in nearly all sections of Abell is limited to two hours unless you get a residential parking permit. Many forego the jumping through hoops at the DMV for one, and risk the occasional ticket - permit-free parking is also available south of 29th Street. It becomes tougher, but not impossible, to find a spot late at night.

Keep an eye out for refurbished rowhouses. Hardwood floors and original molding are left intact, while kitchens, bathrooms and (if you're lucky) windows are updated. It's an ideal balance of aesthetic charm and functionality. Since these structures are old, they're prone to a few bugs and mice as the seasons change. It's rarely sign of an infestation, though, and having a cat or a few sticky traps is usually enough. Looking through a realtor is a good option in Baltimore at large, since they have access to a good number of units, and rarely are two exactly alike.

The odds of finding a pet-friendly home are quite high, since living in Abell means you'll be renting in a rowhouse and not an apartment complex. From experience, a standard "pet fee" (in the ballpark of an extra $30/month, or a flat $300 deposit) is expected from most realtors. The wide, slow streets are very dog-walking friendly, and Wyman Park is just a few blocks away.

Again, there isn't much to do on a nightly basis in Abell, since it's a residential community. The Abell Improvement Association hosts family-oriented events throughout the year, such as a summer street fair, picnics and yard sales. The "open space" is also home to a summer film series featuring mostly family and children's movies. The [Baltimore] Book Thing is open on Saturdays and Sundays, and offers a place to donate your old unwanted books as well as pick up used ones, absolutely free.

Since Abell is rather small, and Charles Village sometimes dull, areas of broad interest are hard to come by. However, Baltimore is called the "Charm City" for a reason, and there are a number of nearby places to check out that most students never even explore. Greenmount is the main drag for the Waverly area, and here you can get decent soul food and thrift finds. Normal's is arguably the city's best used book/record/movie store/weekly venue for international guests - music, spoken word, performance art, or usually a combination of all three.

Walk up to Saint Paul Street for a veritable microcosm of all the essentials. With nearly every business between 31st and 33rd focused on serving the needs of college students, you have two banks, a laundromat, three dry cleaners, Video Americain (an excellent rental store) and about fifteen places to eat just up the street. There are two gyms in the Wyman Park/Hampden area as well as a fitness center on the Homewood campus. There isn't much in the way of fine dining, upscale salons or any more "luxury" services, though, and for that you might want to venture into Roland Park, Mount Vernon, or do a little research on these services throughout the city.

If you haven't figured it out by now, the overreaching shadows of the Johns Hopkins campus have ensured that Charles Village, and to a lesser extent Abell, is dominated by college-age students. Since many young families also populate Abell, it'd be worth it to ask around about where their children go to school. Barclay elementary school is just up the street, and Baltimore is full of magnet and private schools as well.